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 Jason Coskrey

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Jason Coskrey
Jason Coskrey is a sports writer for The Japan Times. His primary focus is Japanese baseball, but he has also covered soccer, American football, boxing and basketball. He previously worked for the Marietta Daily Journal in Marietta, Ga. A native of Detroit, he is a graduate of the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
For Jason Coskrey's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Two-way star Shohei Ohtani ended his free agency on Saturday by announcing his decision to play for the Dodgers.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 10, 2023
Shohei Ohtani to join Dodgers on record-breaking deal
Ohtani reached an agreement on a record-breaking deal worth $700 million with the Dodgers.
Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named to his third straight Best Nine team on Monday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 27, 2023
Yoshinobu Yamamoto named to third straight Best Nine team
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the runaway choice as the best pitcher in the Pacific League on Monday, when the winners of NPB’s annual Best Nine awards were announced.
Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata lifts the trophy after the Asia Professional Baseball Championship at Tokyo Dome on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Nov 20, 2023
Hirokazu Ibata passes first test with Samurai Japan
Japan went through the Asia Professional Baseball Championship with a 4-0 record.
Makoto Kadowaki lifted Japan over South Korea with a walk-off single in the 10th inning at Tokyo Dome on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Nov 19, 2023
Japan tops South Korea on sayonara single in 10th to win APBC title
Japan edged South Korea on a walk-off hit by Makoto Kadowaki.
Chusei Mannami slides into third after hitting a triple as Australia third basemen Luke Smith waits for the throw during the teams' Asia Professional Baseball Championship clash on Saturday at Tokyo Dome.
BASEBALL
Nov 19, 2023
Australia gains crucial experience at Asia tourney in Tokyo
For smaller baseball countries like Australia, the opportunity for its young players to play Japan at a packed Tokyo Dome is invaluable.
Japan's Takahisa Hayakawa (left) and Kyota Fujiwara pose for photos after their win over Australia at Tokyo Dome on Saturday.
BASEBALL
Nov 18, 2023
Japan routs Australia in Asia Professional Baseball Championship
Japan routed Australia to improve to 3-0.
Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after a go-ahead, two-run home run against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas, on June 12.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 17, 2023
Shohei Ohtani wins second American League MVP award
Shohei Ohtani was named the AL MVP for the second time in three seasons.
Shota Morishita (second from right) is congratulated by teammates after his home run in the seventh inning against Taiwan during the Asia Professional Baseball Championship at Tokyo Dome on Thursday.
BASEBALL
Nov 16, 2023
Samurai Japan overcomes slow start to beat Taiwan in APBC opener
Shota Morishita got Japan going with a home run in the seventh inning.
Hanshin second baseman Takumu Nakano (right) and outfielder Koji Chikamoto were among the team's five Golden Glove winners this season.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 10, 2023
Japan Series champion Tigers lead way with five Golden Glove winners
The Tigers set a franchise record with five Golden Glove selections.
A man dressed as Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders jumps into the Dotonbori River in Osaka after the Hanshin Tigers won the Japan Series.
PODCAST / deep dive
Nov 9, 2023
Japan’s 'four-eyed tax hiker' and the curse of Colonel Sanders
Baseball writer Jason Coskrey and editor Joel Tansey discuss the Hanshin Tigers’ Japan Series victory; Gabriele Ninivaggi explains how the prime minister hopes to get a home run with his tax plan.
The Tigers' Sheldon Neuse (center, No. 7) celebrates with his teammates following his three-run homer in the fourth inning of Game 7 of the Japan Series against the Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome Osaka on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 6, 2023
Sheldon Neuse and the catch that ended the Tigers' 38-year drought
For the American, a win in the Japan Series was a perfect ending to a year that did not go the way he had hoped during the regular season.
Buffaloes starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches against the Tigers in Game 6 of the Japan Series at Kyocera Dome Osaka on Saturday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 5, 2023
Buffaloes to allow ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to move to MLB
The move was widely expected before the Buffaloes made it official.
The Tigers toss manager Akinobu Okada into the air after winning the Japan Series at Kyocera Dome Osaka on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 5, 2023
Tigers beat Buffaloes in Game 7 to end 38-year Japan Series drought
The Tigers beat the defending champion Buffaloes in Game 7 to claim their first Japan Series title since 1985.
Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto pumps his fist after retiring the side in the 5th inning of his complete game victory over the Hanshin Tigers on Saturday at Kyocera Dome Osaka.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Nov 5, 2023
In likely farewell, Yamamoto dazzles one last time for Buffaloes fans
Yamamoto proved his manager right in one of the most important outings of his career Saturday — potentially his last in NPB.
Buffaloes pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out 14 in a complete-game victory over the Tigers in Game 6 of the Japan Series at Kyocera Dome Osaka on Saturday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 4, 2023
Ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto helps Buffaloes force Game 7 in Japan Series
The Buffaloes beat the Tigers to send the Japan Series to Game 7.
Tigers fans make their presence known at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Thursday, as Hanshin played Orix in Game 5 of the Japan Series.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 3, 2023
Could the Tigers' curse be over, once and for all?
A win against the Buffaloes on Saturday would see the Tigers victorious in this year's Japan Series.
Tigers rookie Shota Morishita hits a two-run triple to left against the Buffaloes in the eighth inning in Game 5 of the Japan Series at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Thursday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 2, 2023
Tigers rally for victory to move within win of Japan Series title
The Tigers are seeking their first Japan Series title since 1985.
Tigers reliever Atsuki Yuasa needed just one pitch to make a major impact in Game 4 of the Japan Series.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 2, 2023
For Atsuki Yuasa, all it took was one pitch to spur Tigers' win
Yuasa received an immense hero’s welcome from Tigers fans Wednesday night but there was no time to soak in the atmosphere.
The Tigers' Yusuke Oyama hits a walk-off single to lift his team to a win over the Buffaloes in Game 4 of the Japan Series at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Wednesday night.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 1, 2023
Yusuke Oyama lifts Tigers to thrilling win to even Japan Series
The Japan Series between the Tigers and Buffaloes is now tied 2-2.
Buffaloes reliever Yuki Udagawa pumps his fist after striking out Tigers shortstop Seiya Kinami in the eighth inning of Orix's 5-4 win in Game 3 of the Japan Series on Tuesday at Koshien Stadium.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 1, 2023
How Yuki Udagawa’s steely nerves quieted Koshien’s raucous crowd
Instead of being rattled, Yuki Udagawa fed off the electric energy pulsating through the stadium as he protected a one-run lead in a 5-4 win.

Longform

Janos Cegledy sits in a park in Tokyo's Nerima Ward. The pianist says Japan suits him, “There is a certain civility and politeness here which you don’t find anywhere else.”
The extraordinary life of a Holocaust survivor living in Japan